Elder Patrick Kearon Urges Students to Reflect on Social Media and Phone Use

Elder Kearon Urges Students at Ensign College to Reevaluate Phone and Social Media Habits

Cellphones do not just connect people. They demand constant attention, invite endless arguments, and often replace quiet contentment with anxiety. That was the central warning delivered by Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles during a devotional address at Ensign College in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, October 27, 2026.

Rather than issuing a rigid set of rules or a universal mandate to disconnect, the Apostle asked students to look closely at their own digital habits and design a personal plan for moderation. “You know what it has done or is doing for you,” Elder Kearon told the audience, encouraging listeners to use technology wisely rather than letting devices dictate their daily focus.

The Metaphor of the Bus and the Algorithm

To illustrate the psychological shift caused by modern devices, Elder Kearon used a series of drawings depicting a young man riding a bus. In the first scene, the passenger looks out the window, relaxed and content, while passengers behind him argue, wave political signs, and solicit sales. The man remains undisturbed.

Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints directed a message of peace and love to high achievers tempted to tie their self-worth to productivity and success:“My wish is that you and I might slow down and turn… pic.twitter.com/TPL7si5fnL”

— https://x.com/ch_jesuschrist/status/2090212164632256731

In the second set of drawings, the same passenger pulls out his smartphone and begins scrolling. Suddenly, he is engaging with the arguments, political agendas, and commercial pitches happening around him. Instead of calm, he appears visibly worried and bothered.

When asked what changed the man’s demeanor, students in the audience pointed to targeted algorithms, constant accessibility, and a tendency to treat the device as an extension of one’s own identity. “This, dear friends, is the land in which you live, the world in which you live,” Elder Kearon said, adding that technology can be managed effectively with deliberate selectivity.

Drawing on Prophetic Precedents and Personal Action

Reflecting on past counsel from Church leadership, Elder Kearon referenced a 2007 general conference address by President Dallin H. Oaks, who noted that while wholesome entertainment and information are valuable, individuals must weigh whether the time spent obtaining them is truly worthwhile. He also pointed to the teachings of President Russell M. Nelson, who in 2018 invited youth to participate in a seven-day fast from social media.

President Nelson warned at the time that prioritizing social media feeds over spiritual promptings carries the risk of intense loneliness and depression. Acknowledging that many students currently face those exact feelings, Elder Kearon urged them to view their digital habits as a subject for personal experimentation and deliberate course correction, likening the effort to Nephi’s scriptural journey of faith and reliance on revelation.

Following the devotional, student Andrés Contreras shared that he and his fiancée recently decided to delete social media applications after experiencing anxiety related to online messaging. While stopping short of prescribing that step for everyone, Contreras noted that following that personal impression left him feeling more focused, joyful, and closer to his faith and relationships. Fellow student Jessica Engstrom said she plans to review official youth technology guides and increase personal study and prayer to maintain a healthy balance.